Original Sin

Chapter 21

610 A.D., Mecca, Saudi Arabia

She always found it fascinating, the human ability to adapt and accept ideologies as needed, be it for protection or a sense of satisfaction. The Meccan Gods and Goddesses had long ruled this land of sun and sand, since before vagabonds brought trade and nomadic tribes brought their language. Now, the citizens of Mecca, the Quraysh tribe, were seeing the beginnings of religion through the charismatic man speaking in the center of town.

"What do they call him?" Ghaliya quietly asked the man whose arms felt like a vice gripping her waist.

"His name is Muhammad. They say he is a prophet of Allah," Kamil spoke softly, his breath washing over her ear, ruffling the shawl at her shoulders. The colors she wore, vibrant blues and purples, were made even more beautiful against her alabaster skin as they shone in the sunlight.

"He's very ambitious, full of new ideas and theories about God. First Judaism, then Christianity, and now yet another religion springs forth. So similar to each other, yet so different, enough perhaps to fight for it." She whispered the last part. Ghaliya wondered if Kamil heard her.

"The idea of religion, spirituality, it fills a hole in the human soul, something they never even knew they needed until it was already in their hands." Kamil toyed with the ends of her long hair. She giggle as it tickled her neck. People noticed them, noticed her blond hair and his angelic being, then turned back to Muhammad. The man was quickly gathering a large community of followers. 

"Soon..." Kamil began speaking, then trailed off as the rebellious shouting of some Quraysh tribesmen overwhelmed the crowd gathering around the prophet. She felt Kamil's hand tighten its grip around her waist, another hand on her arm, leading her away from the commotion in town, out to the desert. There was a tent and a few horses. The well was close by. They had managed to live there peacefully for close to fifty years. A simple existence that Ghaliya felt drawing to a close.

"Soon, there won't be any tribes and shrines and altars left. The ancient world is giving way to new thoughts and faiths," Kamil said sadly as they entered their little home.

She sat in front of him on a plentiful mound of pillows and carpets. She couldn't help noticing how forlorn his eyes looked as he stared at her. What pained him so much? "Is there violence in the near future? Do you have to go?"

He raised on hand to carefully caress her cheek and brush a blond strand of hair behind her ear. "Not yet, but very soon I will have to, and I fear that such a clash of strong faiths won't remain isolated to just one small part of the Earth. Many men are going to die soon. I can already feel their souls being etched into my list."

"But isn't faith worth fighting for?" Ghaliya leaned closer to him. Her breath ghosted over his face like a careless whisper on the wind.

Kamil cupped her face with both hands now. He looked deep into his wife's soulful eyes, brushing his lips against her's as he spoke. "That depends what you put your faith in, love."

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Present Day

"Michael should be here soon."

Hailey turned her attention to the demon speaking. "He'd better, or I will definitely kill you."

"Touchy. Touchy. Have some faith, why don't you?"

She rolled her eyes at that comment. Putting her faith in a demon? Hardly.

Now was not the time to ponder questions of spirituality though. She and the demon man beside her stood at the base of the Western Wall. This place was chosen for its sacredness as a symbol of spirituality. In Judaism, it represented the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem. For Christians, it was the site of the Temple Mount, the beginning of Jesus's journey to Calvary for crucifixion. Muslims believed it to be the final earthly sighting of the prophet Muhammad before he ascended into paradise. No one would dare initiate an act of war in this place.